Reinette Senum

In June of 2007 I gave the commencement speech at my former high school, Nevada Union. It was a great privilege to do so...... and a blast!

Good morning Principal Mathieson, parents, family, friends, and most of all, the Class of 2007. First of all I would like to congratulate all of you for your accomplishment and thank you for the honor of allowing me to speak today. All of you should be very proud of yourselves. And if your parents and family had any inkling of how I behaved in high school I guarantee you they wouldn’t want me up here influencing you in any way shape or form.

When I was asked to give the commence speech the first thought I had was what would I say? This is rather shocking for a person who always has a lot to say about everything! But I realized I didn’t know what to say initially simply because I didn’t know who you were. I had to ask myself, who is the class of 2007? What does your future look like to you? What is your world like today? So my former NU teachers, Ms Mc Fadden, Claudia Kinseth, Ms Frazier, whom I’m sure would all be proud to know I could even write a speech. Would also be proud to know that I conducted a bit of research into the Class of 2007.

First of all, Class of 2007, your generation has several names. You are known as the MySpace Generation; the I-generation or the Internet Generation; the 2000 Generation and "Generation Now" because the computer-age has raised your expectations of instant gratification.

The gap between your generation and that of your parents is the largest gap since the advent of Rock and Roll. I recognized this a couple of years ago while overseas sitting in an Internet café. At the same time as two 16 year-old American girls at computer next to me, I had discovered that the keyboard letters and symbols were completely different than in the states. I reacted “Oh no” and began typing (type w/ one finger like beginner) and I looked up to see the two girls react “Oh, no.” And then (rapid typing movement)…. Right then I saw THE GAP.

Your vocabularies, arithmetic skills and general knowledge are no better than your parent’s generation. What had increased – dramatically – is your ability at abstract problem solving - also known as “thinking on the spot.” On average, your IQ is 15 points higher than your parents. But don’t get cocky. Your childrens’ IQ will be 15 points higher than yours.

You grew up with a mouse in one hand and a computer screen as part of your worldview. You have learned to surf the Internet as you learned to read. While you were still in your crib, the 20th century started to close as the Berlin Wall came down, the Soviet bloc disintegrated.

During my discovery of your generation I was able to capture a snapshot of the world since you were born…

"Ctrl + Alt + Del" is as basic to you as "ABC."
Paul Newman has always made salad dressings.
There has always been a screening test for AIDS.
Gas has always been unleaded.
There has always been some association between fried eggs and your brain.
In addition…
Computers have always fit in your backpacks.
Stores have always had scanners at the checkout and had a PIN number.
Directory assistance has never been free.
And to you, yuppies are almost as old as hippies.
And peeps are not a candy, they are your friends.

I went on to discover…

And, am relieved to say, you are more likely than your parents to value wisdom over money. You lean towards group perspectives over individual points of view. You were born out of an era of arrogant certainty that has crumbled into an era of humble doubt; simply because of OUR future’s uncertainty. You have learned to use the Internet not as your parents did, as a mechanism to obtain knowledge, but as a sharing and “creation tool” which are the operative words for the day. Your parents are now known as the “Technology Immigrants” and you as the “Technology Natives.”

And as I speak about the power of technology, we must always be aware of its various trappings. The biggest is the inability to put down the cell phones, ipods, and blackberries and participate. Someday these technological wonders may all fail and, if not careful, you’re all going to look up one day and not recognize any of our faces. If you haven’t already, then I ask you, put down the toys once in a while and participate with those around you. I know many of you do…it is vital to our planet’s wellbeing that we ALL do this.

You are known even more so as the Generation of the Millenium which sounds like a weighty responsibility. Of course, when I realize what former generations and I are handing you; teetering global ecomonies; geo-political unrest; exploding global population; changing climate; degraded ecosystems; rising energy and schooling costs…. Well, yeah, I’d have to say you do have a bit of responsibility and if you do get beyond these challenges the world rightfully SHOULD call you the Generation of the Millennium.

So in the beginning of my discovery into the Class of 2007 when I met with one of your counselors you can understand why I had very low expectations, not of your class, but of your future. How could I not? Look what we are handing you. If anything I felt as though I should get up here and apologize…. I’m so sorry, but boy did we really goof up.

So I grew my aware of your generation and began to imagine your future from your perspective. But in order to do this, I first had to look at a pivotal point in our humanity. So allow me to digress for a moment.

It had been thought for many decades that it was humanly impossible to break the four-minute mile until 1954 when a young English medical student by the name of Roger Bannister did just that. As soon as this was accomplished it began to be duplicated around the world, time after time. Those who had heard of Banister’s accomplishment and those who had never heard of his feat.
Years later it would be understood that not only did Banister break the four-minute mile, but he proved to the entire world that there IS such a thing as the Collective Consciousness. This athletic accomplishment showcases the incredible influence every man, woman and child has over this planet. By breaking the four minute-mile, Banister gave the world permission to do the same and the world followed suit.

We have always been connected to our Collective Consciousness, but in addition we are now connected to this tangible global brain called the Internet. Within seconds you can connect the world to YOUR brilliant mind and imagination. You can change the world simply by creating, dreaming, and putting your fingertips to a keyboard. It’s that easy. Never have we had such a remarkable opportunity since the beginning of human history to shape our very existence.

Think of how email, MySpace, Youtube, Wikepedia, MoveOn.org, Facebook, instantly created new ways of thinking. Throwing out ideas, dreams, and previously unthinkable solutions like an “electronic Johnny Apple Seed”; disseminating brilliant novelty into the world for it to take root.

So your future. Well…

You are the first generation born in the modern renaissance. We can’t see it, but we have arrived; streamlining through its first stage of infancy.

The origin from the French word renaissance; “re” meaning, “back again” and naissance meaning “born.” Born back again….

Now it is crucial that we bare in mind another incredible phenomenon concurrently evolving that has no word to describe it. Let me explain. Many years ago environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist, and best-selling author Paul Hawken and his colleagues began to take notice of what he thought was a global movement. A movement of non-governmental organizations taking heed to the planet’s needs; coalescing and working toward three main issues: environment, social justice and indigenous cultures’ resistance to globalization.

Hawken began to dive into government records from around the world, tax census data, lists, indexes, and even small date bases. Hawken was able to estimate there are over one to TWO MILLION organizations around the world working toward ecological sustainability and social justice issues. Hawken stated, “By conventional definition, this is not a movement. Movements have leaders and ideologies. You join movements, study tracts, and identify yourself with a group…. Movements have followers, but this movement doesn’t work that way. It is globally dispersed, grassroots and fiercely independent. The conclusion was made by Hawken: “this is the largest social movement in all of history, no one knows its scope, and how it functions is more mysterious than what meets the eye. What does meet the eye is compelling: tens of millions of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people are willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world.” Hawken sought a name for what he uncovered, but there isn’t one. This movement is so immense we have no name to describe it.

It is now evident that we must change our perspective from one of seeing our planetary challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities. And class of 2007 you are literally standing on the front lines of a New World.

Several years ago I became overwhelmed by the thought of our planetary crisis and societal ills and I felt as though there was no way I could possibly make any kind of a difference in a world so large and complex.

Then I began to remember the story of Banister. I began to think more seriously about the Collective Consciousness and our ability to reach out to the world with the Internet. I soon realized all I needed to do was focus on my community alone and that would generate a ripple effect in ways I could not imagine at the time. I knew these global problems were too large for my brain alone, but I had the ability to bring together like-minded people and collectively we could assemble together a web of local, community solutions that could address these global issues.

That was two years ago and since then, with the concerted efforts of other community members, we now have APPLE, Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy. What has sprung from APPLE and its members are a myriad of solutions; public forums, Clean Power Co-ops, an active website, Peak Moment television showcasing sustaibable solutions that now garnering over 70,000 hits on YouTube, We’ve assembled workgroups, public outreach events and created a shift in community awareness that was beyond my solitary imagination. These solutions were born out of the collective effort of a family of community. Aware that collectively we could bring forth the necessary solutions. Now, I work full-time in our latest organization, PowerUp-NC- where we bring alternative energy incentives and programs to Nevada City to to facilitate Nevada City in become an energy self-reliant role model for other communities.

Within the context of the Collective Consciousness and the ability to now access this global brain we can seek solutions from every corner of the planet and create websites based upon what were once unthinkable solutions. We are now capable in the blink of an eye to create the greatest turning point our humanity has ever witnessed. We are facing great challenges, but with imagination, moral leadership and generational responsibility we can not only understand the root cause of or current predicament, but also can now join together in solving these problems and changing our planetary trajectory. We must search far and wide for not what is already possible, but is still unimaginable – for our homes, communities, and our planet as a whole. We must imagine and focus on a future that is not catastrophic but teeming with solutions, hope and innovation within our grasp.
We need a generation of everyday heroes, people who have the courage to think fresh thoughts and in ways that will meet this global crisis head-on.

We are now calling for a family of community leaders and on-line visionaries. To find, exchange, assemble and discuss information and fresh ideas. With each other and the growing global audience. Simply by conjuring up ideas today you can manifest them tomorrow. Release these concepts generously into the world creating the change you we want to see. Remember you are the generation that has already been characterized as one that shares ideas. We are living on a planet that will demand participation from all.

We need systems that can delivery prosperity to every one. The future needs to be bright, green and freely available to all. The western model has become outmoded. We need a new model that allows unprecedented prosperity on a sustainable basis. One that will allow everyone the tools, designs and methodology necessary to heal the planet’s wounds. A model so powerful that it will make the old way obsolete. And to do this I ask you to create a mindset, communities, governments and economies based upon reciprocity.

Aiming for one-planet practices. Fair and just to all. Retool, redesign, reform, rethink, reuse. What small steps can you take now that will make the largest difference in the system we are all connected? It has always been passion that has transformed the world. Passion is the seed of creativity; creativity is the doorway to yet unthinkable solutions to epic challenges.
Changing the world is a team sport. A planetary family affair. Ask yourself what is your place in this story. What role do you want to play? What do you want to give the world permission to do?

Know that after graduating from high school or college there is no core curriculum for life. You are the only one in charge: so live your life as though you are writing a story; filled with characters, adventures, love and lots of lessons learned. College is something you complete. Life is something you experience and success has a myriad of definitions.

Do not be a slave to your head. What I mean by this is you think over 60,000 thoughts a day. Learn how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to because that is what you will call into your life.

Do not be bound to your plans. Jobs you are studying for today may be obsolete in ten years. We know that the universe is expanding. We know that time is speeding up. Because of this you must learn to adapt. You must think of yourself as an athlete getting into the Zone which is another way of saying get in touch with your intuition. The Kobe Bryant’s, Mark Mc Gwires, Roger Banisters when in the Zone they are tapping into something beyond their mind. Operating out of reflex…

Trust your own experience and instincts over the experts.

My intuition is what kept me alive across my trek across Alaska. I had received just enough experience and training to be a danger to myself and was able to convince myself that I could actually cross Alaska. It's was my intuition that kept me alive.

Seek silence. Seek nature. Read a book. And get out of town. Whatever you do, do not continue living here… at least for now. It’s important you leave the nest. It’ll be here if you need it. Instead travel overseas. The cheaper the better. Become an intern for a cause you believe in. Join the Peace Corp. Investigate your passions on your parent's dime. Before they burn through your inheritance.

Explore the world until it shows you what you are really made of; what particular gifts you possess. And it will… And upon that discovery, I ask you to begin sharing your gifts because that is what we so desperately need in this word; for all of us, even your parents and family members attending today, to be everything we can possibly be and give it willingly. And just think what an incredible world to live in; one that is filled with a people who are giving everything they can possibly give to all of life and the generations to come.

Life will reward you handsomely in ways you can’t imagine. This I have learned from my own experience

While on my solo winter crossing of Alaska I had an experience during my last day of skiing where I saw the most remarkable, full amber colored moon slipping behind the canyon along the frozen Yukon River. Then I looked straight up and I happen to see the Northern Lights dancing over my head and at the same moment a sunrise was just beginning, dawning an orange, purple and pink sky. This was something I didn't even know was possible; the moon, Northern Lights and sunrise all at the same time.... and I would never have known possible if I hadn't pushed myself to see what I could do.

The moon, Norther Lights and sunrise were mother nature's way of rewarding me and telling me I was on the right track.

Understand you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. Know that if you follow your passion, someday those dots will connect... 

It's through serendipity that life is telling you that you are on the right track. And the more you pay attention to your intuition the more your life will be filled with grace. I ask you to have faith. In your gut, life, destiny, karma, whatever you want to call it. Have faith in something larger than yourself. And that everything will be all right in the end. And know that if it’s not all right then, obviously, it’s not the end.

Do not allow your own mind, parent, teacher of therapist talk you out of your wildest plans. If I had listened to reason I would not have the story I have today; an accumulation of connected dots that has completely altered my perspective on our reality and the world around us

I ended my wild dreams by skiing six hundred miles down the frozen Yukon River, Building a canoe, and paddling another 900 miles. If I had listened to reason I will still be dreaming about this adventure rather than having it as one of my many connected dots.

Class of 2007 I thank you for being one of my most important dots... and more than anything, I would like to thank your for being an integral part in my transformation from having little hope for our future to complete faith everything is going to be all right.